Archive for the 'Minnesota Timberwolves' Tag Under 'Lakers' Category

MINNEAPOLIS -- For all the body parts that have failed the Lakers this season, it's clear that when Kobe Bryant's mind is right on offense and Dwight Howard plays out of his mind on defense, the Lakers can still win.

The Lakers avoided their fourth consecutive loss by handling Minnesota, 120-117, on Wednesday night in their first full game without Metta World Peace, possibly out for the season with a knee injury.

It was still close, with Bryant getting away with a possible foul as Ricky Rubio shot a potential tying 3-pointer before the final buzzer.

Bryant modified his behavior after over-shooting in the past two games and looked to get teammates involved more from a point-guard position. The offense also flowed better without World Peace's ball-stopping urges, and World Peace's defensive presence wasn't missed as much without Minnesota having much wing firepower and Howard dominating at that end anyway.

Howard had five steals and five blocks, playing through some early foul trouble that didn't stop him from staying active. He struggled late by shooting 2 for 8 on free throws with Minnesota doing Hack-a-Dwight deliberate fouling, as the Lakers' lead dropped to three points in the final minute -- but Howard finished with 25 points and 16 rebounds. He said he was out to make amends after being "a step slow" last game.

LOS ANGELES -- If the Lakers are still as good as they hope, there should be more where this came from.

The Lakers handled the Minnesota Timberwolves easily Thursday night, winning in the sort of stress-free style that really good teams do.

(They haven't been really good and certainly not stress free most of this season.)

Dwight Howard was active and energized from the start, and the Lakers never trailed in a 116-94 victory. Kobe Bryant made shots from the start, and Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni not once stormed off the bench into a timeout with his usual display of disgust.

With a victory Sunday against visiting Atlanta, the Lakers would be 30-30 -- back at the baseline for the first time since before their New Year's Day game. They are still outside the Western Conference playoff picture, but it's not hard to see inside now: The Lakers are two games behind No. 8 Houston and 2 1/2 behind No. 7 Utah

Gradually rebuilding their belief that they are a winning team, the Lakers handled the Minnesota Timberwolves, 111-100, on Friday night. It snapped an eight-game road losing streak for the Lakers, and now those glances Kobe Bryant has begun stealing at the Western Conference standings might start to become more pleasant.

The Lakers failed to get back into the playoff picture by losing every road game in January, going 0-7, the first time in franchise history they've gone through a calendar month that poorly on the road. But for a team that has tried so many times to restart the season in a new direction, the Lakers chalked up a much-needed victory over a Minnesota team that has won only once in its past 12 games.

The Lakers had much better rhythm and spacing to their offense with Pau Gasol starting in place of Howard at center, playing their best offense of the season and drilling 3-pointers and building a 29-point lead. The defense wasn't good without Howard, but Gasol was activewith 22 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.

Amid ongoing speculation about the Lakers' interest in trading Pau Gasol -- which is certainly possible, though the Lakers' plan is to see how Gasol can be integrated with injured point guard Steve Nash before going down that road -- Minnesota Timberwolves president David Kahn met with reporters in Minneapolis to shut down such talk with regard to his club and the Lakers.

"There's absolutely no truth at all to that report," Kahn said. "It's false, erroneous and irresponsible."

Kahn also said in Ray Richardson's Pioneer Press story about an ESPN.com Gasol story: "There's absolutely no truth that we've had any discussions with the Los Angeles Lakers. The last time we had any discussions with the Lakers was June of last summer. As you can expect, nobody from the outlet that reported the news called to get a confirmation or denial, but that's par for the course these days. I can assure you there's absolutely nothing imminent we're working on."

Kahn's greater point -- and a worthwhile one -- is that trade rumors printed by media members is different from normal fan speculation because it is taken to be true despite only anonymous sourcing or possibly questionable attribution.

The Lakers actively tried to trade Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace before Thursday's NBA Draft, but couldn't pull of a deal despite interest from some teams. Still, the Minnesota reportedly still are interested in Gasol.

In fact, the Timberwolves are so interested in landing Gasol, they were willing to part with their the highest draft choice in franchise history. Minnesota offered Derrick Williams to the Charlotte Bobcats for the No. 2 pick as a vehicle to help them land Gasol , two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press.

The deal never came together before the draft began, and the Bobcats stayed at No. 2 and took Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Gasol stayed in a Lakers uniform -- for now.

Should Gasol land in Minnesota, he would be paired with fellow Spaniard Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love, which would make the Timberwolves formidable playoff contenders.

Not even Gasol's hefty contract is a deterrent for the T' Wolves. Gasol is due to make more than $38 million over the next two seasons, an amount that might scare off some teams. Love is the only player expected to be on the roster next season making more than $4.6 million should the Wolves buy out Martell Webster and decline to tender qualifying offers to Michael Beasley and Anthony Randolph, as expected.

Mike Brown said he was going to toss newly acquired Ramon Sessions into the Lakers mix Friday and see what happens.

What Brown, the other Lakers and a sold out Staples Center crowd saw was a young, athletic point guard who wasn't afraid of taking shots, bumping elbows and replacing a sentimental favorite.

Not that longtime Lakers fans will forget No. 2 any time soon.

But Sessions, acquired Thursday in a trade with Cleveland, helped ease the still-raw feelings surrounding Derek Fisher's departure with seven points, four rebounds, five assists and key defensive moves in the Lakers' 97-92 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Sessions said before the game that he wasn't trying to replace Fisher, who helped the Lakers to five NBA championships, and didn't feel added burden as he eased into his new team's rotation. And it showed.

The Lakers thought they had the deal done with Derek Fisher going to Minnesota for Beasley, but the Timberwolves had second thoughts within their management circle and pulled out. Their conclusion was that they didn't want Fisher's $3.4 million in 2012-13 on their payroll, even if they would've gotten an upgrade at guard via Jamal Crawford from Portland in the three-way trade.

Portland would've gotten the future Dallas first-round pick the Lakers ultimately sent with Fisher to Houston. Crawford would've helped Minnesota's playoff push this season, especially with point guard Ricky Rubio injured, but the Timberwolves ultimately didn't want to pay Fisher next season, when he'll be turning 38 and on the same roster as Rubio, Luke Ridnour and J.J. Barea at the same position.

For the Lakers, it's disappointing to come out of it without Beasley and his immense upside -- and instead with Houston power forward Jordan Hill, who is a shot blocker but severely limited and unfocused on offense and will struggle to take playing time away from Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy. But the Lakers' priority was upgrading at point guard with Ramon Sessions from Cleveland while shedding future payroll.

Hill's contract expires at season's end, as did Beasley's, but both players can be kept, if desired by their teams, as restricted free agents. The Lakers got Hill from the Rockets in exchange for Fisher and that Dallas draft pick that came in the deal for Lamar Odom.

The Lakers are reportedly close to a trade that would bring scoring forward Michael Beasley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft, from the Minnesota Timberwolves, but Lakers coach Mike Brown said Wednesday night when asked by a reporter about it: "This is the first time I have heard his name today."

Beasley, 23, has intrigued the Lakers previously, although he has questions about his dedication and focus. Beasley would upgrade the Lakers' athleticism even with his 6-foot-10 height and add youth. He would be a project of sorts for Brown, who prides himself on being able to make anyone into a solid defender.

The swap would cost the Lakers at least their part-time point guard Steve Blake, who might go with one of the first-round picks the Lakers are holding to Portland, which would give guard Jamal Crawford to the Timberwolves. Blake, who has been sharing minutes over starter Derek Fisher, suited up for the Lakers' game Wednesday night in New Orleans, as scheduled.

The Lakers didn't have to face Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Love because of his sudden back spasms Friday, and the Lakers might've played a part in greater long-term misfortune for rising star point guard Ricky Rubio.